Summer: a sticky day that melts the old pages
off the flimsy, withering leather books
in the Lynchburg Public Library. A season where
the only refuge –
the air conditioned hallways.
Inside: a child scurries to the counter,
holding a pile of children’s books,
lopsided and of a multitude of shapes and sizes. Like childrens’
books are.
The stack amounts above his head,
and he staggers to hold it straight.
The old woman by the counter brings up her glasses,
as if she cannot see the scene,
and sighs.
She does not move.
A smile decorates her lips as she enjoys the sight.
The background: playing Flight of the Bumblebee.
The child dances,
tiptoeing around the old wooden library.
The record keeps spinning.
Karen Lee is a student at Chadwick International in Seoul, South Korea, who has an unquenchable passion for both writing and drawing. In preparation for her future academic endeavors, she is diligently compiling her writing portfolio and has recently received an acceptance to Iowa Young Writer’s Studio, a distinguished program that identifies and nurtures emerging writing tale.